Collapsible spool



April y 1935 s. D. GRIUMNEY ET m. 999,606

COLLAPSIBLE SPOOL Filed July 14, 1932 1 F040]? H. Carf'en Patented Apr. 30, 1935 UNITED STATES COLLAPSIBLE SPOOL Samuel D. Grumney, Hampton, and Ralph H. Carter, Johnson City, Tenn., assignors to North American Rayon Corporation, a corporation of Delaware Application July 14, 1932, Serial No. 622,524

7 Claims.

Our present invention relates to improvements in take-up spools for twisting machines and the like, and, more particularly, to an improved takeup spool having collapsible sections which will permit of the even drying of the yarn wound thereon from the twister, the collapsing being so arranged as to compensate for the shrinkage of the damp twister thread wound thereon. By the use of our new type of spool undue tension in the drying thread is avoided.

Our present invention also contemplates, by the use of our improved collapsible spool, an improved method for the twisting and drying of threads and/or filaments of artificial thread and analagous products.

It is therefore an object of our present invention to provide a spool built up of a plurality of sections so arranged as to be moved inwardly toward the axis of said spool during the drying of the thread wound thereon during twisting.- By the use of such a spool the spun thread, and/or filaments, after the usual wet treatments, may be removed from the, dryer while in a comparatively wet state as compared with the usual method of drying wherein very little moisture is retained by the thread after the completion of the drying operation. After removal from the dryer the spools of comparatively wet threads are then placed in a twisting mechanism, and the thread after twisting is collected on our new collapsible spool. Because of the fanning effect of the rotatingspindle and the ballooning of the thread during twisting, the moisture content thereof is considerably reduced and it is consequently comparatively dry when wound on our new spool. The final shrinkage of the thread is compensated for by the collapsibility of the spool.

Still another object of our present invention is to provide a collapsible take-up spool wherein movable sections thereof are held normally against the driving flanges of the spool but which are adapted to move inwardly as the thread wound thereon dries. By such construction there is no tension placed on the thread during drying.

A further object of our present invention is to provide an improved collapsible spool primarily adapted for use on twisting machines. Such a spool will facilitate the rewetting and redrying of the thread in practicing the process outlined in the copending application of Ralph H. Carter, Serial Number 623,007, filed July 16, 1932, now Patent No. 1,955,323 of April 1'7, 1934.

These and other objects of our present invention will become more apparent from a study of the following description, and by reference to the attached drawing, wherein:

Figure 1 is a sectional view of our new collapsible spool taken along the lines 5-! of Figure 2; and

Figure 2 is a sectional view taken along the lines 2-2 of Figure 1.

Referring now more particularly to the drawing in which like numerals indicate like parts, our new collapsible spool comprises a central shaft or rod I U to which are secured in any suitable manner, such as by nuts I I, the perforated end plates or disks 12. As will be seen from an inspection of Figure 1, the end plates or disks are provided with flanges l3 which not only limit the outward movement of the movable sections of the spool, but provide driving surfaces against which the take-up rollers I 4 contact. This method of driving the take-up spool avoids contact between the take-up roller and the thread on the spool, such contact being rather injurious to the thread, and is an improvement over the driving mechanisms now commonly used in the art.

The thread carrying portion of the spool comprises a plurality of segments l5 which are each provided with spaced shells or tubular members l6, having telescoping engagement with pins ll projecting outwardly from the shaft Ill. The segments are held normally against the inner surface of flange l3 of the end plates by means of springs or other resilient means l8 resting against the bottom of the tubular members or shells I6 and against the ends of the pins ll. As will be noted from an inspection of Figure 2, the segments, in their outward position, are not in contact with each other, spaces l9 being provided to permit their movement toward the shaft Ill. The construction of the end disks is such as to protect the movable section of the spool against damage, should the spool be accidentally dropped.

The spool is held in driving position by means of pins 20 which are adapted to be journalled in the usual supporting bearings (not shown) in the machine.

In operation the spools of thread are removed from the drier in a damp condition and placed on the conventional twisting spindles. The thread passing from each twister is then collected on our new collapsible spool. Because of the rotation of the spindles and the ballooning of the thread during twisting, the moisture content of the thread is still further reduced. If desired, means may be provided above the twisting spool to subject the thread to hot air to aid in the drying of the thread. The thread, as it is wound on the collapsible spool, is still slightly damp, and as it drys on the spool the shrinkage is taken care of by the collapsing of the spool, thereby preventing the setting up of undue tension in the thread.

From the above description it will be appreciated that we have provided a new and improved method of and device for the drying of threads by which undue tension in the thread is avoided by providing a collapsible surface upon which the thread, while still in a damp condition, is wound.

While we have described our invention with reference to the specific embodiment shown, it will be appreciated to those skilled in the art that many minor changes may be made without departing from the spirit of our invention or the scope of the appended claims.

What we desire to claim as new is:.

1. A collapsible spool comprising, in combination, a central shaft, perforated disks secured to the ends thereof and provided with depending circumferential flanges, .spacedpins secured to said central shaft and postioned between said disks, perforated segmental shaped sections carrying tubular members telescopingly engaging with said pins, springs positioned in said tubular members normally pressing said segmental portions outwardly, the outward movement thereof being limited by said flanges.

2. A collapsible spool comprising, in combination, a central shaft, disks secured to the ends thereof and provided with depending circumferential flanges, spaced pins secured to said central shaft and positioned between said disks, segmental shaped sections carrying tubular members telescopingly engaging with said pins, springs positioned in said tubular members normally pressing said segmental portions outwardly, the outward movement thereof being limited by said flanges.

3. A collapsible spool comprising, in combination, a central shaft, end disks securedtheret a yarn supporting body made up of a plurality of spacedsegmental plates, and movably connected to saidshaft, means normally to press said plates outwardly, said means positioned between said disks, and means on said disks to limit the outward movement of said plates.

4. A collapsible spool comprising, in combination, a central shaft, perforated disks secured to the ends thereof and provided with depending circumferential flanges, spaced pins secured to said central shaft and positioned between said disks, perforated segmental shaped sections carrying tubular members telescopingly engaging with said pins, means positioned in said tubular members normally pressing said segmental portions outwardly, the outward movement thereof being limited by said flanges.

5. A collapsible spool comprising, in combination, a central shaft, perforated disks secured to the ends thereof, spaced pins secured to said cen tral shaft and positioned between said disks, perforated segmental'shaped sections carrying tubular members telescopingly engaging with said pins, springs positioned in said tubular members normally pressing said segmental portions outwardly, and means to limit the outward movement of said sections.

6. A collapsible spool comprising, incombination, a central shaft, perforated disks secured to the ends thereof, spaced pins secured to said central shaft and positionedbetween said disks, perforated segmental shaped sections carrying tubular members telescopingly engaging with said pins, springs positioned in said tubular members normally pressing said segmental portions outwardly;

7. A collapsible spool comprising, in combination, a central shaft, perforated disks secured to the ends thereof and provided with depending circumferential flanges, spaced pins secured to said central shaft and positioned between-- said disks, spaced'perforated' segmental shaped sections carrying tubular members telescopingly en-' gaging with said. pins, springs positioned in said tubular members normally pressing said segmental'sections outwardly, the outward movement thereof being limited by said flanges.

SAMUEL D. GRUMNEY'. RALPH I-I. CARTER 

